Musical Car Seats, Among Other Things

-We're in the midst of a "game" of musical car seats. Basically, this means that my children are not capable of riding peacefully in the car for even 10 seconds. Therefore, we have been experimenting with different seating arrangements for everyone, to see which method produces the least amount of fighting/whining/screaming/arguing. It's been a rough road. I drive a minivan. You'd think there were would be plenty of room in a 7 passenger minivan for 4 (because Aaron isn't usually in the car with us) of us to have personal space. You'd be wrong. The original arrangement, was that Ivan and Adelia each had a captain's chair in the middle row, and Lincoln was all by himself in the back. This worked great until Adelia's arm got long enough that Ivan could reach it when they both stuck their arms out over the isle. Then they started pulling on each other, pinching each other, knocking toys out of each others hands, or making the other drop a toy they were currently holding in their hand. All of these result in screaming. You'd think they'd be smart enough to figure out that if they'd just kept their arms to themselves, the other person would not be able to reach them. Well, like me, you'd be wrong. So, we thought, we'll move Ivan to the back with Lincoln. This was an even worse arrangement. Mostly because in the back seat, they were closer together, so not only could they hit and pinch, but they could also kick each other. And without fail felt that it was necessary to whack each other with whatever object they could get their hands on, including the things that can't be removed from the car, like the middle lap belt, the cup holder insert, and that weird seat belt looking thing that hangs down from the ceiling on one side. And of course I'm always driving, so what can I do about it all? "Stop fighting you're going to be in trouble!" Right. They're smarter than that. They know all I can do from the front is yell. So, we have recently moved Lincoln up next to Adelia and left Ivan in the back by himself. We'll see how that goes. Heaven help us if we ever have another child.

-Aaron's supposed trip is getting on my nerves. His company has been telling us for a month now, that they're sending him to Cali for 3 weeks. They tell us a day, and then a few days before they say, never mind, we're pushing the trip back. One day, I even took him to work with a suitcase in hand, fully expecting not to see him again for 3 weeks. He called me at noon, when he was supposed to be boarding the plane, to tell me they'd pushed it back yet again, and could I pick him up from work at the usual time. Don't get me wrong, I am not in the least bit anxious to have him leave. But the unknown is killing me. I keep making all these plans of things for us to do to keep our minds off the fact that he's gone, and then suddenly he's not gone, but we still have all these plans. But the good news is, that since they pushed his trip back one more time, I get to go to book club tonight because he'll be home watch the kids. I'm glad about that, I love our book club, and this month we read one of my favorite books, These Is My Words by Nancy Turner. And I'm excited to talk about it with the other ladies.

-Finally took Ivan to the doctor this morning. For the last 3 weeks he's had this ugly rash off and on. It showed up one day after we'd had Thai food, and I thought it was just a reaction to that. It was all over his face and chest, but went away after a couple days. But then it'll flair up again and then go away. I can tell that it's itching him, because he scratches himself so hard that he bleeds. Well, the rash showed up again last night, and he started screaming bloody murder when I tried to put lotion on it. So, this morning, we decided to have him see a doctor just to check it out, since it doesn't seem to be going away on it's own. Doc said Ivan just has a case of Atopic eczema mixed with a little rash that sometimes comes along as a symptom of the common cold. Atopic eczema is an allergic disease believed to have a hereditary component and often runs in families whose members also have asthma. Itchy rash is particularly noticeable on head and scalp, neck, inside of elbows, behind knees, and buttocks.He prescribed a steroid cream for us to apply to the worst areas, to help the rash go away, and told us to pat Ivan dry after baths instead of wiping him dry. And also to use more moisturizing soaps like Dove or Lever 2000 to wash with, and to find a heavy oily lotion, such as Eucerin cream to slather him up with twice a day, and see if those things help. I'm glad he doesn't have some creepy, contagious skin disease. I can deal with eczema, even though it's looking like something he'll have to keep an eye on, and take care of, for his whole life.

-While we were waiting in line at the pharmacy to get Ivan's steroid cream, my children were running around like wild indians. And older man who was also sitting there waiting, and observing my children, said to me, "You need one more girl." And I smiled and replied, "Ya, like 10 more, that's exactly what I need right now." I was probably more sarcastic that I should have been. But seriously, have you ever spent any amount of time with 3 wild children in a pharmacy? Waaaayyyyyyyy to many things for them to touch that I don't want them touching. All the medicine for one, and then for some strange reason they seem to think that Pharmacies are a good place to have a craft boutique coexist, so there are also a million little cutesy breakable things at eye level and within grabbing distance. We were only there 10 minutes and I was ready to strangle someone by the time we left.

-I will probably be thrust down to hell for this, but I strongly dislike the new primary song for this year. It's cheesy, and forced, and sounds like Janice Kapp Perry wrote it (oh wait, she did.) Not my favorite. I'm trying really hard to feel like I should teach it to my children anyway.

-But here's something I do love. This North Carolina BBQ pulled pork recipe. Heaven in a crock pot, I'm tellin' you what. And it's easy... that always makes it taste better.

3-4 lb pork loin/roast/shoulder
1 cup apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup plus 1 Tbsp prepared mustard
1/4 cup plus 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
2 tsp. red pepper flakes


1. Trim fat from pork and put in crock pot. 2. In a bowl mix remaining ingredients and then spoon over meat. 3. Cover and cook on high for 5 hours, or on low for 8 hours. 4. Shred meat to use in sandwiches.

If I make this again and expect the kids to eat it, I'll half the red pepper flakes, it is a little bit spicy. But if I'm making it for just myself I'll keep it exactly the same. It was so flavorful and good, I hope we never run out of the leftovers, but we will, because I'm eating them every chance I get.

-Here's another thing I love Do-A-Dots. I finally ordered some. I've had my eye on them for about a year now. We pulled them out yesterday and my boys were entertained for an hour, no kidding! It was amazing. And I can totally see some great potential in these little babies, besides just for coloring. We are going to have some fun with these.

-I also ordered volume 1 of the Story of the World by Susan Wise Bauer, read by Jim Wiess. Although this is a history curriculum for kids, I'll admit that I ordered these for me. I've been wanting to get them and listen to them ever since I first heard about them 2 years ago. When the kids are a little older, we'll definitely use it as their history curriculum, and do the activities and all that. But for now, I'm listening to them in the car, (and since the kids are usually in the car with me, they listen too, and pick up bits and pieces here and there. Lincoln is fascinated that hippopotamus means water horse.) and I'm really enjoying them. I'm learning about ancient Egypt right now, which I have always been fascinated with. What can I say? I'm a nerd. But it's a nice break from the much over played Disney CD we usually listen to in the car. :)

-My birthday is coming up. Mark it on your calendar, it'll be here in about 22 days. :) Aaron got me a bike for Christmas, so I was thinking something like this center mounted bike seat would make a good birthday present. And I think Adelia would love it. The boys already have bikes (or will soon enough, Ivan is getting one for his b-day in March), so the only thing stopping us from going on a bike ride right now is Adelia. So this would solve that problem. Of course, we'd have to get her a helmet too. Whose birthday is this anyway? ;)